Boiler cleaner



Sept. 13, 1932. N NOW 1,877,148

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Sept. 15, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v amawl oz Aarmaw Z. 572 000 attoweq Sept. 13, 1932. N. L. sNow ,877,

BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Sept. 15, 1923 3 Sheets$heet 2 Sept. 13, 1932. N. L. sNow BOILER CLEANER Original Filed Sept. 15, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 auoewto'p ,Vdrmani. ,Snaur Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORMAN. L. SNOW, OF NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO DIAMOND POWER SPECIALTY CORPORATION; OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER Application filed September 15, 1923, Serial No. 663,002. Renewed October 16, 1931.

This invention relates to boiler cleaners and refers more particularly to boiler cleaners of the rotatable type, thatis, boiler cleaners having a plurality of nozzles through which steam or other cleaning fiuid is dis charged and which boiler cleaners are rotatable through either one or more complete arcs or a portion or portions of an arc.

Among the objects of the invention are toprovide in a boiler cleaner of the kind mentioned an automatic regulation of the length of time that the boiler cleaner is in operation as by some means that will automatically call the attention of the operator to the fact that the boiler cleaner or blower'has been'rot-ate'd a predetermined number of times. This is preferably accomplished by so constructing and arranging the mechanism that after a predetermined number of rotations the oper ator will have either to reverse the mechanism or manipulate it in a different manner from the normal operation before he can continue the operation of the blower.

Other features of the invention are to provi de mechanism for this purpose which'can be economicallyconstructed and applied to boiler cleaners of types now in use without materially changing such structures.

The invention further resides in such arrangements and'combinations of parts as are more particularly pointed out in the specifications. the specifications and in which various modifications are shown:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a boiler cleaner constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form of construction;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3; v

s Fig. 5 is a side elevational viewof a further modified form of construction; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the structure shown in Fig. 5.

In the several embodiments of the invention which are illustrated in the drawings the boiler cleaners are shown as having blower In the drawings forming a part of.

pipes provided with nozzles (not shown) for I discharging cleaning [fluid adjacent portions of the boiler or the like (not shown) to be cleaned. Cleaning fluid such as steam orthe like may be supplied to each blower pipe by I shown in these figures. 7 2 is the gear wheel for rotating the blower pipe 15, on the hub of which wheel is one member of a positive clutch 7 8. The sleeve 74 is rotatably mounted on the blower'pipe 15 and to the left of the arm 76. On the left hand of the sleeve 74 are teeth 75 forming a part of the positive clutch 73. On the right hand end of the sleeve 74 is fastened "a ratchet 77 and a pawl-78 is mounted on the arm 76 and engages with the" ratchet 77. A spring 79 holds the positive clutch 7 3 normally engaged. On the face of the gear 72 is'cut a spiral groove 80in which a pin 81 runs. The arm 82 to which the pin 81 is fastened is free to move so that the pin 81 may follow the groove 80. In the position shown in the drawings the limit of rotation in a counter clockwise direction has been reached. In order to disengage the lock ing mechanism the gear wheel 72 must'be backed up a short distance. This backing up motion will push the sleeve 74 tothe right oniaccount of the inclined faces on the teeth of'the positive clutch, sleeve 74' being held from rotation by the ratchet 77 and the pawl 78. This motion to the right of the sleeve 74 moves with it the arm 7 6, arm 82,.and pin 81, disengaging pin 81 from the spiral groove 80, and allowing the pin 81 to drop near the center of the gear wheel 72 and engage with the beginning of the spiral groove 80, when counter clockwise motion is again started when another cycle of rotation is repeated.

Referring particularly to Figures 3 and v4, it will be noted that the gear 94 is provided on its face with the spiral groove 94. The gear 94 is further. provided on its face with a recess 94 in which is pivotally mounted a pawl 94 normally urged outwardly by a leaf spring 94 An arm 93 is pivotally mounted on the standard 93 as by the pivot pin 93 and this arm 93 is pivotally connected at its free end to an arm 92 which carries at its free end a pin 92 adapted to engage in the spiral groove 94. A spring 92 arranged between the arm 93 and the arm 92 tends to urge the arm 92 into a position where the pin 92 is in the groove 94'.

In operation when the gear 9 1 is rotated clockwise, the arm 92 rides over the pawl 94 urging the pawl 94 into the recess 94; against the tension of the spring 94 When, however, the pin 92 reaches the outer end of the groove 94:, counter clockwise rotation must be given to the gear 94 whereupon the arm 92 engages the free end of the pawl 94 to swing the pawl about its ,pivot until it abuts against the edge of the recess 9& Obviously the edge of the recess 9& prevents inward movement of the pawl 94 whereby the arm 92 is urged toward the arm 93 against the tension of the spring 92 to urge the pin 92 out of the groove 94:. H

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a preferred form of the invention in that it is applicable to the present commercial form of boiler cleaners without materially changing the latter. In this construction, a ratchet 97 is journalled to the disc 98 which in turn is fastenedto the driving 9. The ratchet 97 is mounted on the shaft 100, so that it will revolve freely and is helu against the disc 98 by a light tension. spring 101. Loose- 1y mounted on the pinion shaft 103 is a pawl 102, the thickness of which pawl is slightly greater than the combined thicknesses of the disc 98 and the ratchet97. The purpose of this particular mechanism is to allow the unit to, rotate predetermined number of times and after this has been accomplished to lock the unit so that it cannot be re volved further by pulling the chain in the same :direction. This result is accomplished in this construction by the use of one or more d-eepslots 104 in the-ratchet 97 with the cor- 16S1')Q11Cll11'g deep slot in the disc 98. In the position vshown, one of the slots 10 1 registers with th-eslot in the disc 98 andthe pawl 102 is dropped into the two slots which register and the mechanism is thus locked and cannot be revolved in the direction indicated by the arrow. The pawl is held against the ratchet by a spring 105 but in order to release and unlock the unit it is first necessary to turn the gear 99 in the reverse direction at which time the pawl 102 will ride upon the inclined surface 106 on the ratchet 97 until it drops over and engages the first tooth of the ratchet. A pull on the chain 107 at this point will then permit the gear to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow and the pawl is then'held out of engagement with the deep slot in the disc 98 and it rides over this slot due to the fact that the pawl is carried on the outer edge of the ratchet wheel 97.

A complete revolution of the large gear 99 moves the ratchet 97 around onetooth and two, preventing further rotation of the blower pipe 15, the device can only hennlocked by reversing the direction of the gear and then repeating the operation described. 7 As will be readily apparent, the device shown in Figures 5 and 6 is adapted to be incorporated in a boiler cleaner in which the main control valve is automatically actuated upon the rotation of the blower element. Accordingly it will be noted by reference to Figure 5, that :a cam 99 is mounted on the gear 99 -'to rotate with the same and thatthis cam is adapted to engage a pivoted lever 99 which lever in turn engages the valve stem 99 of a main control valve 99 which controls the flow of cleaning fluid from the supply pipe 99 @bvio-usly when the main gear 99 is rotated to rotate the blower element the lever 99 is periodically depressed to actuate the valve.

Tlo facilitate mounting of the cam 99 on the gear 99, the gear is provided with an annular series of openings 99 through which bolts 99 carried by the cam 99' are adapted to pass. The cam 99 is provided with a plurality of openings 99 in order that the cam 99 may be adjusted to any desired position on the said gear. h

To facilitate the description of the invention, "the device has been referred to as a boiler cleaner adapted to clean. parts of aboiler. It will be apparent, however, that the construction will find equal utility when in-v corporated in a cleaner for any heat transfer apparatus. It is to he therefore understood that wherever the term boiler is used throughout the specification and claims, this term is to be construed as meaning a heat transfer apparatus or fluid heater of any character and that the term boiler cleaner, wherever used throughout the specification and claims, is to be construed as meaning a cleaner for anysuch apparatus.

Further, it is to be understood that a cycle of movement of the blower element means such a movement of the blower elementthat a nozzle thereof moves away from a fixed I l Vhile I have shown and described the in v vention in connection with means for blocklng certain portions of the operating mechanism, the invention in its broader aspects, 1s not hmlted to the particular number or locat1ons of the blocking means. For example, 1 L

111 place of the blocking means snown, the

blocking means might be applied to "the chain or to any other part or connected mechanisms.v The term rotate- .or' rotativel is intended to cover any turning movement whether it be an oscillation through .less, than 360? l or through more, or a continuous turning movement in one direction for. a part of or anumber of revolutions. V

,What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe having a nozzle for discharging a'jet of cleaning fluid, of means for rotating said pipe about its longitudinal axis to direct the nozzle toward different portions of the boiler tobe cleaned, an element carried by and movable with'the blower pipe, and a second element adapted to be moved by the first element during the normal operation of the blower pipe, one of said elements bein'gfixed against movement with respect to the blower pipe and means automatically brought into operation after a predetermined number of rotative movements of said pipe for holding one of said elements relatively stationary to prevent movement of the other element and thereby automatically regulating the number of rotative movements of said pipe.

2. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe having a nozzle for dis charging a jet of cleaning fluid, of means for rotating said pipe about its longitudinal axis to direct the nozzle toward different portions of the boiler to be cleaned, an element car ried by and movable with the blower pipe, and a second element adapted to be moved by the first element during the normal operation of the blower pipe, one of thesaid elements being fixed against movement withre{ spect to the blower pipe and means automatically brought into operation after a pre determined number of rotative movements of said pipe for holding one of said elements relatively stationary to prevent movement of the other element and thereby automatically, regulating the number of rotative movements of said pipe by locking the means for turning said pipe, 1

. 3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe having a nozzle for discharging a. jet of cleaning -fluid, means for turning said pipe about its longitudin alaxis to' direct the nozzle toward difi'erent portio-ns of the boiler to be cleaned, means for locking the pipe from normal rotative movement and a re-setting mechanism for said locking means operable by a difierent movement of the means for rotating the pipe,

- 4. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower pipe normally adapted to be rotated for cleaning the boiler, of means for rotating said blower pipe, locking means act ing after a predetermined amount of rotation corresponding to a normal cycle of opera ation, for preventing further rota-tion of the blower pipe, said locking means'adapted to.

and in a direction difiering from its normal movement whereby said blower pipe can then be again? operated by said rotating means through the aforesaid normal cycle.

' 5. In a boilercleaner, a rotatableblower pipe, a notched plate rotatable with said blower pipe and limited against movement relative'to the blower pipe, a ratchet associated with said blower pipe. provided with notches, a pawl engageablejwith said notches of the plate and ratchet, and means for causing said pawl to engage the notches of the plate and ratchet to prevent further movement of the blower pipe after a. predetermined movement thereof,

6. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower pipe, a notched plate rotatable with said blower i e and limited a ainst movement,

relative to the blower pipe, a ratchet associated with said blower pipe provided with notches, a pawl engageablewith said notches of the plate and ratchet, means for causing said pawl to engage'the notches of the platetion'diilerent from that at the time of engagementoi the pawl with the notches.

7. A boiler cleaner comprising a rotative blower elementfixed' against longitudinal movement and provided with a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle, means for rotating said element throughout a plurality of similar cycles of rotary movement and means for automatically'locking said element against further cyclical'movement after said rotating means has acted to rotate the element throughout a predeterminednumber of said cycles.

8. A boiler cleaner comprising a rotative blower element provided with a cleaning fluid discharge nozzle, said element being adapted to be rotated throughout a definite arc comprising a complete cycle of movement of the element, means for imparting rotation to said element to move the element throughout a predetermined number of said cycles and means responsive to a predetermined ro-' tative positioning of said blower element for automatically locking said element against further cyclical movement.

9; A boiler cleaner comprising a blower element adapted to be given a series of sub stantially equal rotational movements in one direction, means for imparting the aforesaid rotationalmovement to the element, means for locking the element at the end of one of said series of movements against further rotational movement in the aforesaid direction and means responsive to a slight backward rotational movement of the blower ele ment for releasing said locking means whereupon the element may then be rotated in the direction first mentioned throughout the next of the said series of movements.

10. A boiler cleaner comprising a blower element adapted to be given a series of substantially equal rotational movements in one direction, means for imparting the aforesaid rotational movement to the element, means for locking the element at the end of one of said series of movements against further rotational movement in the aforesaid direction, and means responsive to actuation of the first said means for releasing said looking means whereupon the element may then be rotated in the direction first mentioned throughout the next of the said series of movements.

11. In a boiler cleaner, the combination of a blower pipe, means for rotating the said blower pipe in a predetermined direction, means for locking the said blower pipe against rotation in the said direction after a predetermined amount of rotative movement of the said pipe, and manually actuated means for releasing the said locking means to permit continued rotation of the said blower pipe in the said first mentioned direction.

- 12. In a boiler cleaner, the combination of a movable blower pipe, means for moving the blower pipe through a plurality of similar cycles of movement, means operable upon completion of a predetermined number of said cycles to lock the blower pipe against movement, and means for releasing the said locking means.

13. In a boiler cleaner, the combination of a blower pipe, means for moving the said blower pipe through a plurality of cycles,

and means automatically operable to lock the said blower pipe agamst movement upon movement of the blower pipe through a predetermined number of said cycles, said means including a member movable with the blower pipe and a second member movable to a position to engage the first mentioned member.

14. In a boiler cleaner, the combination of a blower pipe, means for moving the said blower pipe, and means automatically operable to lock the said blower pipe against movement upon a predetermined movement of the blower pipe, said means including a member movable with the blower pipe, a second member movable to a position to engage the first mentioned member, and means normally holding the second mentioned member out of engagement with the first mentioned member.

15. In a boiler cleaner, a movable blower element, means for moving said blower element, and a latch automatically operable to lock said blower element against further movement upon a predetermined movement of the blower element.

16. In a boiler cleaner, a blower element, means for moving said blower element, a latch operable upon a predetermined movement of said blower element to lock said blower element against further movement, and means for releasing said latch.

17. In a boiler cleaner, a movable blower element, means for moving said blower element, a latch for locking said blower element against movement, and means automatically operable upon the movement of said blower element for controlling the operation of said latch.

18. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower element, means for rotating said blower element, a member movable with said rotating means, a latch engageable with'said member for locking said blower element against rotation, and means operable in dependence upon rotation of said blower element for controlling the engagement of said latch with said member.

19. In a boiler cleaner unit, thecombination with a rotatable blower element adapted to discharge a ct of cleaning fluid, a stationary cleaning fluid supply pipe, a valve therein controlling the supply of said fluid to the blower element, and means mounted on said unit to rotate said blower element, of means operated by the first means to operate said valve whereby upon continued movement of the blower element rotating means, the

blower element and valve are moved through successive cycles, and means, whereby, the said valve operating means is prevented from functioning after a predetermined number of successive cycles. a I

20. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a movable blower element adapted to.

discharge a jet of cleaning fluid a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid to the blower element, means for moving the blower element through a plurality of cycles, and means for actuating said valve in timed re lation to the movement of the blower element, of locking means operable upon movement of said blower element through a predetermined number of cycles to 'prevent operation of said valve actuating means.

21. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a movable blower element adapted to discharge a jet of cleaning fluid, a valve for controlling the How of cleaning fluid to the blower element, means for moving the blower element through a plurality of cycles, and means for actuating said valve in timed re lation to the movement of the blower element, of locking means operable upon movement of said blower element through a predetermined number of cycles to prevent operation of said valve actuating means, and means operable by a different movement of said blower element moving means to release said locking means.

22. In .a boiler cleaner, the combination of a movable blower pipe, means for moving said blowepipe in a predetermined direction, means operable upon a predetermined movement of the blower pipe in the said direction to lock the blower pipe against movement, and means actuated by the blower pipe moving means for releasing the said locking means to permit further movement of the said blower pipe in the said direction.

23. In a boiler cleaner, the combination of a movable blower pipe, means for moving said blower pipe in a predetermined direction, a locking member movable to locking position upon a predetermined movement of the blower pipe in the said direction to lock said blower pipe against movement in the said direction, and means for moving said member out of locking position to permit further movement of the said blower pipe in the said direction.

24. A boiler cleaner comprising a blower element adapted to be given a series of substantially equal rotational movements in one direction, a gear fixed to said blower element for imparting the aforesaid rotational movement to the same, said gear being provided in one of its faces with a spiral groove which starts adjacent the axis of said gear and terminates adjacent the periphery of said gear, a pin engageable in the said spiral groove and adapted to travel in said groove radially outwardly of the gear during the aforesaid rotational movement of the element,the arrangement being such that engagement of said pin with the outer end of said groove locks the element against further rotational movement in the aforesaid direction upon completion of a predetermined number of rotational movements in the said direction, and means responsive to slight backward rotational movement of the blower element for withdrawing said pin from said groove and providing for the reengagement of said pin with said groove at the beginning of the groove whereupon the element may then be rotated in the direction first mentioned throughout the next of the said series of movements, said last mentioned means including an arm carrying said pin, and a sleeve loosely mounted on said element and engageabie with said arm to move the latter.

25. A boiler cleaner comprising a blower element adapted to be given a series of substantially equal rotational movementsin one direction, a gear iiXed to said blower element for imparting the aforesaid rotational movement to the same, said gear being provided in one of its faces with a spiral groove which starts adjacent the axis of said gear and terminates adjacent the periphery of said gear, a pin engageable in the said spiral groove and adapted totravel in said groove radially outwardly'of the ear during'the aforesaid rotational movement of the element, the arrangement being such that engagementof said pin with the outer end of said groove'locks'the element against further rotational movement in'theaforesaid direction upon completion of a predetermined number of rotational movements in the said direction, and meansresponsive to a slight backward rotational movement of the blower element for withdrawing said pin from said groove and providing for the reengagement of said pin with said groove at the beginning of the groove whereupon the element may then be rotated in the direction first mentioned throughout the next of the said series of movements, said last mentioned means including an arm carrying said pin, and a pawl carried by said gear and engageable with said arm to'move the same upon backward movement of the gear. Y

26. In a fluid heater cleaner, avmovable blower element, means for actuating said element through a plurality of cycles of movement, and means for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of said cycles.

27. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means for actuating theelement through a plurality of cycles of movement, means located adjacent said element for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through apredetermined plural number of said cycles. f r

28. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means adjacent said element for actuating the element through a plurality of cycles of movement, and means located adjacent said element for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of said cycles.

29. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means for actuating the ele ment through a plurality of arcuate cycles, and means located adjacent said element for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of said cycles. I

30. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means located adjacent said element for actuating the element through a plurality of arcuate cycles, and means located adjacent said element for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a prede-L termined plural number of said cycles.

31. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means located adjacent said element for actuating the element through a plurality of arcua te cycles, and means located adjacent said element for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predotermined plural number of said cycles, said last mentioned means being actuated by means operating in timed relation to the movement of said element.

32. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means for actuating the element through a plurality of cycles of movement, and means operatively associated with said element actuating means for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of said cycles.

33. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means for actuating said ele ment through a plurality of cycles of move ment, a valve member operating in timed relation to the movement of the blower element for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to the blower element, and means for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of said cycles.

34. In a fluid heater cleaner, a movable blower element, means for actuating the element through a plurality of cycles of movement, a valve member operating in timed relation to the movement of the blower ele ment for controlling the admission of cleaning fluid to the blower element and means operatively associated with said element actuating means for automatically terminating the actuation of said element after it has been actuated through a predetermined plural number of said cycles.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature.

NORMAN L. SNQVV. 

